Town Info

BLUE HILL Nestled between Blue Hill Mountain and the protective arm of Blue Hill Bay lies the town of Blue Hill. In 1762, the town’s founders sailed up the bay, disembarked at Mill Island near the reversing falls and built their homes there. Incorporated in 1789, Blue Hill first made a name for itself as a shipbuilding and lumber center, it’s sawmills and craftspeople turning out brigs and schooners, masts, cordwood and shingles. Granite from Blue Hill was prized for its high quality and made its way to such notable buildings as the US Stock Exchange and the Brooklyn Bridge.

By the mid-1800’s, the town became a summer destination. Today, Blue Hill is rich with artists and craftspeople, excellent food, gracious lodging, art galleries and small shops. Blue Hill welcomes visitors and residents alike to hike its forests and to canoe, kayak and sail its waters. As a service center, the community offers excellent public and private schools, a library that has been the cornerstone of intellectual and social activity in town since its founding in 1796, and a full-service hospital.

Blue Hill offers community events such as the traditional blueberry pancake breakfast at the Congregational Church, a summer concert series featuring the steel drum band “Flash! in The Pans,” classical music at Kneisel Hall, Blue Hill Bach and choral music by the Bagaduce Chorale. The Memorial Day Parade, the famous Blue Hill Fair, and both a winter and summer farmers market are just some of the social, recreational and musical events Blue Hill has to offer.

BROOKLIN A small, lively town at the southern end of the Peninsula, Brooklin was initially settled as part of the town of Sedgwick. Brooklin was incorporated independently in 1849. With miles of beautiful shoreline come the town’s chief industries - fishing and boatbuilding. The town is world-famous for its boatbuilding history and is home to The Brooklin Boat Yard, The WoodenBoat School and WoodenBoat Magazine, along with many smaller builders and design shops.

Brooklin offers a charming town center with a beautiful library, small shops, galleries, groceries and provisions. Along its winding roads, travelers will catch stunning glimpses of the Benjamin River and the Eggemoggin Reach. Brooklin hosts several wellknown events each year, including the Eggemoggin Reach Regatta and a magnificent 4th of July parade.

BROOKSVILLE The town of Brooksville dates back to the early 1800’s. It encompasses the villages of: Harborside on Cape Rosier (also known simply as “the Cape”); South Brooksville - home to Buck’s Harbor Market, and the white steepled church made famous by Robert McCloskey’s illustrations; North and South Brooksville; and Brooksville Corner.

Brooksville’s rolling fields and woodlands, it’s coves and harbors and its seat at the mouth of the Bagaduce River make it a popular destination for boating, kayaking, hiking and for simply getting away from it all. Shell fishing, aquaculture and farming are staples of the town’s economy. Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park on Cape Rosier offers 7.5 miles of oceanfront and woodland hiking, diverse ecosystems, and beach access. The Park is maintained by The Friends of Holbrook Island Sanctuary, and can be accessed from the Cape Rosier Rd. For more information, including park maps, visit www.friendsofholbrook.org.

CASTINE Settled in 1604, the historic town of Castine is one of the oldest in the nation and the only town on the Peninsula to have been occupied at various times by the French, the Dutch and the English. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Penobscot River estuary, along with such colorful figures as Paul Revere and the Baron de St. Castin, made the town a notable trading and maritime center, and a prominent player in the fight for American independence. Today, Castine offers walking tours of its historic buildings, including three forts and Dyce’s Head Lighthouse. It is home to Maine Maritime Academy, and it’s downtown offers a wonderful mix of architectural gems, gracious hospitality and fine dining. Shops and galleries dot the hilly streets leading down to the waterfront.

Summer season in Castine offers something for everyone. Our 4th of July celebration includes a parade, firetruck rides, hot dogs, watermelon and a variety of children events on Town Common- a real “slice of Americana!” The day ends with an amazing fireworks display over our historic harbor. On July 14th we celebrate our French heritage with Bastille Day lectures, cooking demonstrations, kid-friendly events on Town Common and our Picnic en Blanc with hundreds, dressed in white, seated at a common table. Our Plein Air Festival, July 19-21, 2018, attracts artists from away and culminates in an Exhibition and Art Sale. And all summer long, the Castine Yacht Club hosts races on Penobscot Bay, in a variety of classes, including the Camden to Castine Classic Yacht Race on August 2nd. Throughout the summer, events and lectures are hosted by the Wilson Museum, Castine Historical Society and our Witherle Library where parents and children alike learn of our rich and storied history from events like Revolutionary and Civil War encampments/reenactments.

DEER-ISLE & STONINGTON Reachable by bridge, Deer Isle still retains the flavor of New England life in the 1950’s: rural, neighborly, and safe. A cluster of small communities with almost 3,000 residents comprise the year-round population. Lobstering is the mainstay of the economy although the diversity of the Island’s businesses draws many visitors from off Island. Granite is still quarried here. Internationally renowned Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has brought a plethora of artists and artisans to the Island, many of whom have chosen to live here permanently. Galleries and studios dot the island. We have two performing arts facilities – the Stonington Opera House and the Reach Performing Arts Center. The Opera House provides numerous productions throughout the year.

The schools, churches and community organizations on Deer Isle play a central role in bringing the community together. Public suppers, festivals, craft fairs, boat races, school sports events and workshops all contribute to a strong sense of community and island pride. A wide variety of accommodations are available from inns to campgrounds. Restaurants, coffee bars, antique shops, libraries, gift shops, book stores and galleries all offer a rich selection of places to visit, to browse and, of course, to Buy Local. The Island Heritage Trust and the Deer Isle-Stonington Historical Society provide glimpses into the history of the people who first inhabited the Island. They are not to be missed.

Deer Isle is a paradise for photographers, birders, boaters, artists, naturalists and anyone who loves the outdoors. We are fortunate to have twelve very diverse nature preserves, many donated by generous residents. Several other conservancies are located on neighboring islands, including Acadia with park land on Isle au Haut. The mixture of sprucecovered islands, quiet coves, granite outcroppings, fields of lupine, windjammers, glistening waters and pristine winter snow make a visit to Deer Isle, at any time of year, an enriching experience.

PENOBSCOT The small, quiet town of Penobscot was one of the earliest settlements on the Peninsula. It’s interior marshes, ponds and the Northern Bay are popular destinations for birding, leisure fishing, kayaking and boating. Incorporated in 1787, the town remains a treasure trove of the region’s history. The Penobscot Historical Society hosts a much-loved pig roast during the height of the summer.

SEDGWICK The town of Sedgwick was incorporated in 1798 and named after Major General Robert Sedgwick who ousted the French from neighboring Castine. The township’s boundaries diminished as land was taken to form the neighboring towns of Brooksville and Brooklin in the early 1800’s. Early settlers found the land more suitable to grazing, quarrying and logging, due to the long, rocky ridge that runs between the Bagaduce river and Salt Pond. Blueberry barrens dot the landscape, offering scenic views, most notably Caterpillar Hill. The town’s coastline stretches along the shores of the Eggemoggin Reach, separating the Peninsula from Deer Isle. The mouth of the Benjamin River offers sailors and other boaters a quiet cove, and village of Sargentville is the gateway to Deer Isle.

SURRY Nestled between Ellsworth and Blue Hill, the town of Surry is a beautiful small town that touches Patten Pond, Toddy Pond, and the Union River Bay. Home to the Carter Nature Preserve, Surry is a perfect place to kayak, swim or enjoy nature close up. You can catch breathtaking views of the mountains of Acadia National Park. It is close to many of the area’s attractions, yet still quiet.